Saving Abel returns to TC with new singer

April 7, 2016 | Traverse City – Scott Bartlett wasn’t sure how things would work out when singer Jared Weeks left Saving Abel.

Guitarist says band’s live show improved with Austin

The hit-producing rock band’s frontman left a little over two years ago to pursue a solo career.

The band brought on Scotty Austin to take over singing duties and hastily produced its 2015 record “Blood Stained Revolution” — all while performing 306 shows that year.

“Initially, I was horrified,” said Barlett, one of the band’s guitarists, along with Jason Null. “You always hear the horror stories of trying to bounce back from a new singer. It’s the hardest member to replace.”

The band also had to find a new drummer after Michael McManus in late 2013.

Bartlett said the five-piece outfit has moved onward and upward, and will be performing Saturday night at the Streeters Center.

“It’s just a better live show,” Bartlett said. “Jared had a phenomenal voice and still does. But the thing we have going for us now is it’s a rock show that’s aesthetically pleasing.”

Austin is more active on stage, and the band has drifted slightly from the southern rock sound it had, although that aspect is still there.

Saving Abel — which has played at Streeters several times in past years — has produced 10 top-40 songs, five of which landed inside the top 10, since its 2008 self-titled album went gold.

“Blood Stained Revolution” peaked at No. 12 on the U.S. rock charts, a higher placement than 2012’s “Bringing Down the Giant,” the band’s third and final album with Weeks at the helm.

“It’s tough to gauge,” Barlett said. “We’re in a time where people don’t buy records. … I think Scotty beats himself up sometimes, because album sales aren’t great. But the thing is nobody is selling records.”

The opening acts include Smile Empty Soul, the Veer Union and Kirra. Tickets are $15 in advance.

Smile Empty Soul’s hits include top-40 songs “Bottom of a Bottle,” “Nowhere Kids” and “Silhouettes.” Its new album “Shapeshifter” is being released this month.

The Veer Union — most known for it’s 2009 top-10 hit “Seasons” — released its fifth studio album “Decade” in January.

“It’s very refreshing that we were able to hang out with them after the show and there weren’t a bunch of egos,” Bartlett said. “It seems like it’s going to be a very positive run. … That goes a long way with me. We’ve seen it all. We’ve seen the egos; we’ve seen down-to-Earth people. We all know artists can sometimes be a nightmare to work with. My band prides themselves on being as humble as we can be, because we’ve seen the ups and downs of the industry.”

Bartlett said the band has three songs written for an upcoming album. In typical Saving Abel fashion, one of those songs is about sex, one is an up-tempo hard rock song and there’s a ballad.

Bartlett said Saving Abel hopes to release several singles and generate enough funds off downloads that the band can take time off from touring to record an EP and eventually a full-length album. That way, the album isn’t hastily put together like “Blood Stained Revolution.”